Lance Armstron broke away on Tour Down Under!

[42x16ss]

With that kind of form he must be odds on for Amstel Gold?

That migh be possible now that Boogerd won't be there to sit on his wheel anymore.

 

[buckwheat]

to all the LA haters:

"When our group was formed, Armstrong's turns were twice as long as ours. He obviously enjoyed being in the front. He was fully on."

Française des Jeux's Mikaël Chérel, the other Frenchman in the break, was also impressed by Armstrong. Chérel was prompt to follow his fellow compatriot off the front and was a bit surprised to see the seven-time winner of the Tour de France joining them in the break.

"It was nice to be out there with him", Chérel said to Cyclingnews. "I don't know if he had something in mind, but he was doing a lot of efforts. It was really impressive. I can tell you that when you are on his wheel when he pedals at threshold, it hurts! He was a step above everybody else in the breakaway."

Wow, he's getting better with age!

I wonder if he's accomplished this with prayer?

I stand in awe, a miracle of ?????

 

[Publicus]

Wow, he's getting better with age!

I wonder if he's accomplished this with prayer?

I stand in awe, a miracle of ?????

I remember noticing the same thing during the TTT. Armstrong was taking MONSTER pulls. And we all know how things actually turned out. Frankly I wouldn't put too much into it. It's not like everyone was timing their form to peak at the TDU.

 

[Carboncrank]

Is that Oscar Pereiro in front?

Man! They're already playing psyche games, tagging him to LA.

LOL.

ohh. scarry mind games.

the french rider said lance did by far the longest, fastest pulls on the front.
he finished same time as the winner.

 

[Jancouver]

I remember noticing the same thing during the TTT. Armstrong was taking MONSTER pulls. And we all know how things actually turned out. Frankly I wouldn't put too much into it. It's not like everyone was timing their form to peak at the TDU.

form to peak? Are you kidding? We all know that the entire Shaq corporate team is there so he was trying to impress them. Nevertheless, he still got some serious power in his legs and those young kids were just barely hanging on

 

[Publicus]

form to peak? Are you kidding? We all know that the entire Shaq corporate team is there so he was trying to impress them. Nevertheless, he still got some serious power in his legs and those young kids were just barely hanging on

No doubt he was trying to impress the Shack Executive Team. And he does have some serious power in those legs. Though he doesn't look 71 kilograms to me.

 

[richwagmn]

No doubt he was trying to impress the Shack Executive Team. And he does have some serious power in those legs. Though he doesn't look 71 kilograms to me.

He's gotta earn that million plus appearance fee.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

This thread is a great idea!
From now on, we should start a new thread for every single rider in a breakaway in every minor race!!!

 

[brianf7]

That was the cancer council race he was suposed to do that I think.
But was he strong in that break it upset the pelaton they had to work hard to get them back very hard.

the chase caused a lot to go out the back.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

My loathing of liggett and sherwen has hit an all time high today.. Im so glad im not american.

That's awesome. If you could work in Bob Roll as his anus, you'd have a Versus mascot/image for the TdF.

ROFLMAO! Wow Dim! One goal kick after another for you today! You really nailed it in all your posts. If only you knew how painful it's become for us over here on this side of the pond. And it's amazing too, as Liggett really was a quality announcer and journalist some 10+ years ago. His work in the 80's into the 90's was pure joy to listen to.

Hilarious add on Publicus.

It's going to be another, long season of such lunacy.

I feel your pain.

Just how many threads are we going to rack up by the end of the year devoted to the guy..?

We should hold a contest. Winner gets to take over my moderating powers to delete all the spam and troll posts for the following year.

A lot of us will be comparing the progress of Team Radio Shack to that of Team Sky, who I suspect are going to prove to be a much better organization.

True, especially as Sky looks like a team of the future, while RS looks like a team of the past.

 

[fuggles]

I caught the 30 minute VS coverage last night. At the end they had a little segment on the "Rider of the Day Award". Guess who won?

 

[Señor_Contador]

Vs is such a farce.

I used to like it a lot more when they were OLN network.

Sherwin and Liggett... what a shame.

Talk about your career going down the drain.

 

[Cozy Beehive]

Armstrong missing his "magic ratio"

He admitted that he's still searching for the Magic Ratio it seems http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/tour-down-under-news-roundup-24672

Btw, I'm not exactly sure how the course was but power to weight has little role to play in a breakaway in a crit. Maybe he's referring to the golden medical ratio. I don't know what that is. Ferrari may.

My theory on why he brokeaway is this: First race of the season, brand new sponsor, and the corporate head honchos are there in Australia to watch it. He just wants to make them proud and display the Radioshack brand out in the front for half an hour before getting reeled in. Later in a press conference, the guys with him gave "rave reviews" about his threshold power when he took his turns out in the front. Suspect what you want to suspect.

 

[Angliru]

With that kind of form he must be odds on for Amstel Gold?

Using an Armstrong quote: "Being fast now doesn't necessarily mean fast in July" or April or whenever.

 

[Ripper]

Hi, my name is Oscar, I like rides in the sun, walks on the beach, and eating doughnuts with extra servings of ice cream.

 

[ravens]

Hi, my name is Oscar, I like rides in the sun, walks on the beach, and eating doughnuts with extra servings of ice cream.

hilarious!

+1

 

[Señor_Contador]

Hi, my name is Oscar, I like rides in the sun, walks on the beach, and eating doughnuts with extra servings of ice cream.

You forgot "... and I'll be your companion for the next 6 months".

 

[pueblo 2 wheels]

TDF winners

some of the Aus media are hyping the TDU up as Armstrong and Evans going head-to-head... they just don't get it.

No way the best cyclist the world has ever seen could win the TDU.



Armstrong couldn't either

So, I am not a huge fan of LA. Hard to buy he was clean all those years. the truth will come out someday. Contador will toy with, then crush him in July. But, there are so many haters on this sight. Why don't we change the subject and talk about the great Aussie TDF winners. Anyone? Hello...

Don't say Cadel Evans. Never has, never will. Any others? Fluke of a one hit wonder in 09. He is good at following though. I know, so is Levi. Someone has to be perpetually second and third.

Don't worry boys, you'll smash him at Ironman no doubt. OI, OI, OI

 

[hfer07]

Hi, my name is Oscar, I like rides in the sun, walks on the beach, and eating doughnuts with extra servings of ice cream.

and sometimes & get bothered by some UCI while I'm happily dinning with friends

 

[Anonymous]

He pulled out for about 60 seconds with a bunch of other guys...who pulled him...and then got the ride of the day award from michelob beer who he is doing commercials for...and came in 65th or so...Phil and Paul had to go back to the hotel to wash all the **** off each other...total joke...

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I often get clumped in as a "hater" because I don't believe Lance was clean like he and his supports claim. But I don't hate the guy. I don't hate anyone really.

But what I do hate is the way the media (and if you know me, you know my job) covers the guy wall-to-wall, no matter what he does. And fans across the planet it seem to perpetuate it. This was somewhat understandable during his winning years. But it really bothered me starting with the Giro last year when the cameras and media followed him from start to finish, even though he never did anything. Never came close to winning a stage. Never launched an attack, never was in a break, and got dropped on all the tough climbs. Several riders finished ahead of him, did more than him, and they hardly got mentioned. Tadej Valjavec and David Arroyo for example. Both rode a great Giro, made some breaks, finished ahead of Lance. Hardly any media coverage, and hardly anyone knows who either are. Heck, Pelizotti finished 2nd and most people don't know who he is. During the Tour it was maybe worse. Roberto Nocentini was in the Maillot Jaune for over a week, Mikhail Ignatiev was awarded the most aggressive rider, and no one knows who these two guys are, because during that time all the talk was on Lance vs. Alberto.

To me, all of that is just lazy journalism. And that's what I hate.

 

[D Avoid]

You would think this sort of information might be in the thread about the race. Wild idea, I know. It's much better to start a thread about every has been who sticks his nose into the wind during the course of a race.

He's more of a never was if you take away his tragic blond forecasting spells of windy weather.and on and on..i give up, foot the shucker.

 

[kurtinsc]

I often get clumped in as a "hater" because I don't believe Lance was clean like he and his supports claim. But I don't hate the guy. I don't hate anyone really.

But what I do hate is the way the media (and if you know me, you know my job) covers the guy wall-to-wall, no matter what he does. And fans across the planet it seem to perpetuate it. This was somewhat understandable during his winning years. But it really bothered me starting with the Giro last year when the cameras and media followed him from start to finish, even though he never did anything. Never came close to winning a stage. Never launched an attack, never was in a break, and got dropped on all the tough climbs. Several riders finished ahead of him, did more than him, and they hardly got mentioned. Tadej Valjavec and David Arroyo for example. Both rode a great Giro, made some breaks, finished ahead of Lance. Hardly any media coverage, and hardly anyone knows who either are. Heck, Pelizotti finished 2nd and most people don't know who he is. During the Tour it was maybe worse. Roberto Nocentini was in the Maillot Jaune for over a week, Mikhail Ignatiev was awarded the most aggressive rider, and no one knows who these two guys are, because during that time all the talk was on Lance vs. Alberto.

To me, all of that is just lazy journalism. And that's what I hate.

I agree with you about the Giro, but in the Tour talking about Lance was valid. While they talked about him... they talked about Andy and Alberto as well. As they were the podium finishers... I think that's fair.

It's not about Lance in particular though as much as it is about star power in the US market (who Versus is catering to).

I remember the 1991 Tour coverage to some degree, and I remember a LOT of talk about Lemond. I remember very little talk about Gianni Bugno. Lemond was 7th that year... Bugno 2nd.

Stars get coverage... especially in their home country. That's just the way it works.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

But if that were the case, there should have been more coverage on Leipheimer. He won the TOC, finished ahead of Lance in the Giro, and was ahead of Lance in the Tour when he dropped. He was covered a little, but way less than Lance. Heck, even in the Vuelta Castilla Leon the story was Lance breaking his collarbone, even after he was no longer in the race. Remember who won by the way?

Agree that coverage in 1991 was party slanted. The big story was Lemond faltering as defending champ after looking so strong early in the race. But the networks failed to cover Indurain, Ciapucci, Bugno and Mottet enough. This is especially true as Bugno is fluent in English, and I believe Mottet speaks it fairly well. Setting up quick interviews and profiles would have been fairly easy with them. And finding someone to translate in a venue like the Tour is very easy.

While there will be a certain bias to champions and locals, it's in many cases to tell stories that are fresh. But Lance didn't really bring anything fresh last year other than the fact he was returning. To have P&P pontificate about his greatness at the expense of what was actually happening on the road, is just poor reporting.

Also, by covering one person so very much and ignoring so many others, a network (or periodical or website) runs a risk of cutting their future off. It's very Wall Street, narrow sighted thinking. Furthermore, there are a lot of die-hard true blue cycling fans who would like to know more about a rider like Valjavec, Ignatiev, or Nocentini. Especially when we already know almost all there is to know about Armstrong, and what we don't know we can find out on a daily basis elsewhere very, very easily.

 

[Spare Tyre]

I often get clumped in as a "hater" because I don't believe Lance was clean like he and his supports claim. But I don't hate the guy. I don't hate anyone really.

But what I do hate is the way the media (and if you know me, you know my job) covers the guy wall-to-wall, no matter what he does. And fans across the planet it seem to perpetuate it. This was somewhat understandable during his winning years. But it really bothered me starting with the Giro last year when the cameras and media followed him from start to finish, even though he never did anything. Never came close to winning a stage. Never launched an attack, never was in a break, and got dropped on all the tough climbs. Several riders finished ahead of him, did more than him, and they hardly got mentioned. Tadej Valjavec and David Arroyo for example. Both rode a great Giro, made some breaks, finished ahead of Lance. Hardly any media coverage, and hardly anyone knows who either are. Heck, Pelizotti finished 2nd and most people don't know who he is. During the Tour it was maybe worse. Roberto Nocentini was in the Maillot Jaune for over a week, Mikhail Ignatiev was awarded the most aggressive rider, and no one knows who these two guys are, because during that time all the talk was on Lance vs. Alberto.

To me, all of that is just lazy journalism. And that's what I hate.

+1

(+10,000 would be a more accurate representation of my feelings on the topic)